ephemerette

I'm on a bit of an enforced shopping diet at the moment so not really paying too much attention to what's in the sales other than some household stuff which desperately need replacing (discovered a spring  poking out of a mattress the other day :-/).   But,  but, look how pretty these plates from  Anthropoligie  are. Usually I prefer unfussy, plain white china when it comes to a dinner service, but  I have a collection of pretty mismatched small side plates used for snacks, cake and things. I'm a bit smitten with the handsome bird on the smaller side plate (right hand picture) and  sorely tempted to pick up a couple to add to my mismatched collection - they are on sale after all...

I have a little Christmas tradition with one of my best friends. Instead of trading gifts each year we set aside a day to spend together hanging out, eating, drinking, window shopping (OK maybe a bit of actual shopping too) and generally gadding about being a bit silly. Life has been busy and stressful for both of us recently and we haven't been able to see much of each other at all, so it was extremely restorative to spend a decent amount of time together recently. Emails and phone conversations just aren't the same as some proper face time with your best mate right? Of course adding tea, cakes and cocktails to the equation always help things along nicely too. If you live in London or are planning to visit I'd recommend stopping by Bob Bob Ricard if only for a drink to marvel at it's rather fabulous 30s inspired interior. You can't help but feel glamorous tucked into one of the dining room booths, trying hard to stop yourself from repeatedly jabbing a

Loving this print from oddly named illustrator Lunchbreath on etsy. In fact I love a lot what's in his (I think its a he?!) shop. Think I may need to work on widening my vocabulary as I've just started playing the Scrabble game W ords with Friends on my iPhone and sadly I think my brain has started to atrophy as I'm terrible at it. Impatiently using the first word that comes to mind rather than considered, tactical play leads to regular beatings I'm afraid.

image via the talented Haute Couturista

I moved offices recently landing me about 2 minutes walk from a Zara store. I'm telling you it's not a good thing to be walking past it's welcoming doors several times a day - just too easy to pop in and purchase on a regular basis.  Here are two of my recent buys -  This lovely caramel and black zebra scarf , think it may be a contender to finally replace my beloved and now somewhat bedraggled leopard scarf which I've been doggedly wearing year round for I think probably a couple of years now. This Zara baby is the perfect size and weight to wear at anytime of the year dressed up or down. And yes I am a sucker for animal print, to the point where I regard them as neutrals to throw over everything now. Secondly this black satchel bag . Pure impulse buy. I definitely didn't need a new bag  having bought several already this season but I really like it's shape and it has some nice detailing including the braided straps, plus for a cheapie it's mad

I do like this old shot of la Moss in a Vivienne Westwood cardy. She makes the old school buttoned up cardigan, slick of red lipstick and glossy up-do look distinctly real rather than an elaborate retro pastiche. I was forced to wear a really scratchy horrible scarlet jumper to school when I was about 8 or 9 years old which I think has successfully put me off wearing anything red for life, shame our uniform wasn't designed by Mme Westwood eh?